Alright, I was struck by inspiration and wrote this in about an hour and did minimal. But, I wanted to get Alda out there so here we go!
Aalda is from the (Fan) plane of Duuraal, where she was training to become one of the Plane’s Angels despite the suppressions surrounding her appearance. She had a peaceful existence, training quietly with her master, Ulla. Unfortunately, things are about to change...
Aalda’s eyes snapped open, thundering knocks on the quiet monastery’s heavy wooden doors. She did think it odd as she made to stand. The monastery was in a secluded part of Duuraal and visitors were rare. She was even more surprised to be stopped before she could move further to answer the door.
“Peace, apprentice. I will see to our visitor; you continue your meditations.” The flowing speech of her master stated as the Angel’s wings eased her to the floor next to the small girl.
“But Master Ulla, it is no bother. I am sure you have more important matters to attend to.” Aalda said quickly, frown creasing her face. It was usually her task to handle the door. It was expected of Angels attendants to do so.
“No, this takes priority. I believe that I know who interrupts us and I am not pleased. Continue your meditation and I will handle our intruder. That means stay here,” An edge that Aalda had never heard before from the normally soft spoken angel laced the word intruder. It worried her. “No worries, small one, I will call you if you are needed.”
“Yes, Master.” She replied quickly, though worry bubbled up. She almost spoke her concerns again but the Angel had already left, wings disappearing from the doorway. A sigh left her lips as she clasped her fists together, starting to re-center herself. The strange marking that marked her flesh prickled as she did but she had long since learned to ignore slight pains, mana slowly flowing her body, relaxing her….
Mere seconds passed before she felt magic being unleashed in the main hall and she fell out of her meditation a second time. She started toward to it but stopped once again, her master’s words echoing in her head, stopping her.
A loud crash and accompanying scream changed that though and the girl dashed out to the main hall. She was greeted by a sight of destruction.
Ulla floated about a foot off the ground, palms glowing from recently expended magic. Before her lay a pile of ash and an unmoving body lay in a crater to her left. An inquisitor stood before her, white cloak billowing, buffeted by the seemingly enraged angel’s wings. His arms were at his side, one calmly grasping his sword.
“Master!”
The angel’s head swiveled at the call, brow furrowing in anger. “Apprentice, I told you to stay in the meditation room. Leave at once.”
“Ah! There she is. I knew you had it here, but I did not anticipate you to be foolish enough to let her roam free.” The Inquisitor sneered, disgust apparent on his face. “Thane Ulla, turn the Marked One over to the Inquisition at once and we will vacate the premises. Otherwise, we will be forced to more dramatic measures.”
“Aalda is my apprentice, not just a Marked One. She poses no danger and is under my protection. You will leave without her or not at all.”
Aalda moved toward her Master but the angel waved her hand, a glowing cage stopping the young girl from progressing. “Stay back, apprentice.”
“You are making a mistake, she’s a threat to everything we stand for. Hand. Her. Over.”
“I cannot do that.” Ulla said, magic gathering around her as she prepared an attack. The site invoked awe in Aalda and she took an involuntary step back.
The inquisitor shook his head. “Regrettable.” He murmured and quickly cast a spell. Aalda’s eye widened as all of the magic in the room suddenly just…stopped. Ulla’s attack dissipated, the cage vanished and her angelic master fell to the ground. The robed man strlled forward, sword glinting as he pulled it from it’s sheath.
“Forgive me but I must do what’s necessary. May you find peace in the next Cycle.” The Inquisitor murmured, though his words were quiet, they carried through the silent hall.
His sword arced down.
A horrible thud.
A light flashing, briefly blinding the hall’s residents.
A simple smoking crater where a mighty angel once lay.
A girls’s screaming sobs, gut wrenching pain engraved in her wails.
Then, it was all gone, Aalda feeling something in herself snap as the blank silver mask of the Inquisitor strolled toward her and the horrible scene faded away.
Her body suddenly felt it was being ripped apart before being violently shoved back together again. She coughed before vomiting, trying to catch her breath. She rolled onto her back, the horrible light of her master’s death playing on repeat in her mind.
She threw up again.
“They say the gods work in ways we rarely understand,” A voice suddenly broke through to her. She turned her head slightly, seeing a bearded man who appeared to be wrapped in a bedsheet crouching next to her. “But I never expected this was what they meant.”
Aalda could only blink in confusion.
“Ah, of course. This must be a test from Ephara.” She saw and felt the man scoop her up, taking care in the action. “I must say though, she is normally rather subtle. The prophets normally speak on matters such as red skinned youths appearing in the gardens. Theros seems to be growing stranger as I grow older…”
“Ephara? Where?”
“Who, not where.” The creaky voice corrected, leaving Aalda just as confused as she lost consciousness, not able to process anything more as the old voice droned on.
